The first swells associated with the hurricane Melissa have already reached the southern coast of Granma province, raising the water level.
According to a post from the local channel CNC TV Granma, "as anticipated, strong waves have begun today along the southern coast of eastern Cuba." In the video accompanying the post, the sea can be seen raging relentlessly.
From Punta de Piedra, near Marea del Portillo, witness Yunior Blanco comments: “You can see how the strength of the sea is increasing… you can already see how the sea,” as the waves crash against the rocky coast.
In parallel, a leader from the municipality of Pilón, also in Granma, recorded a video earlier showing how "the sea level has already risen, and look at the waves, the strength they have, the impact of the wind."
The combination of strengthening winds and relentless waves puts Eastern Cuba in a critical situation. According to reports from the Instituto de Meteorología de Cuba and other sources, Melissa has rapidly intensified over the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, reaching maximum sustained winds of around 220 km/h, and it is expected to become a major hurricane in the coming hours.
The eastern provinces of the island have been put on alert, due to the possibility of extreme rainfall (150-300 mm, even up to 450 mm) and storm surges.
The images emerging from the south of Granma serve not only as a visual warning but also as a human testimony to the vertigo caused by witnessing the sea encroach upon the land.
This situation goes beyond the meteorological aspect and enters the social realm. The eastern region of Cuba is facing prolonged blackouts, a lack of potable water, and deteriorated housing, which multiplies the vulnerability of thousands of families in the face of an event of this magnitude.
Meanwhile, CNC TV Granma urges everyone to avoid strolls along the coast or any nautical activities in these areas. As the message states: "The phenomenon will impact the seas south of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo with greater intensity in the coming hours."
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